In January 2024, the French version of The Circus Train was released. I didn’t get a chance to write about it on my blog. To be honest, I haven’t really had a chance to post about any of the foreign editions (New York continues to take up all my spare time!)

It’s been so much fun to see the different translations trickle out and the French one was no exception. I find the marketing of books in different countries so fascinating. Apparently circuses are not super popular in book titles in France, so my French publisher opted to change the title to La Fille De L’Illusionniste, which translates as The Illusionist’s Daughter. What’s so funny about that is that that is the title I submitted the book under when I was trying to find an agent.

Anyways, I’m thankful for every moment throughout this wild ride, but France really seemed to enjoy this book. Earlier this month I found out that a Quebecois publisher decided to buy the rights from my French publisher to publish the book in French in Canada (or maybe just in Quebec - I’m not sure yet.) I think this is so amazing because it’s not often that English books will get translated purely for the province of Quebec or even Canada.

Then last week, my agent emailed me to share that La Fille De L’Illusionniste was nominated for a Prix Babelio in the Foreign Literature category. Babelio is basically like the French version of Goodreads. Again, such a lovely thing to hear and very unexpected.

It was also on a radio show in France:

• Le livre d'Amita Parikh, "La fille de l'illusionniste" paru aux éditions Faubourg Marigny, est présenté: Listen here

All of this has made me feel like I need to revisit my French lessons (I am a bad Canadian and am not fluent despite mandatory French classes).

On a more serious note, I hope there is another author out there reading this that takes heart in the fact that this whole bookish life is a journey, not a final destination. It’s been over 2 years since my book came out in Canada but we’re still selling into different markets. Please don’t ever lose hope, you never know when your luck could turn.

If you’d like to vote for La Fille De L’Illusionniste in the Prix Babelio, you can do so here (you have to make an account). A massive, massive thank you to every reader who bought, borrowed or recommended this book to someone. It’s because of readers like you that I am afforded opportunities like this.